Yars' Revenge

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Description

In Yars' Revenge, your goal is to destroy the Qotile laser-base which is located on the right side of the screen behind a shield. You control the fly-like Yar, which can destroy the shield piece by piece by either shooting it or running into it. Once the shield is down, you will need to use the Zorlon cannon to destroy the Qotile. The Zorlon cannon is located on the left side of the screen, and when fired can destroy the Qotile with a direct hit. The Qotile isn't completely unarmed against your attacks, however. Wandering around the screen is a destroyer missile, which will constantly be homing in on your Yar. This missile can not be destroyed, however, you can temporarily hide from it in a shield that runs vertically in the center of the screen. The Yar will be unable to fire when hiding in the shield so you can't stay there indefinitely! The Qotiles second weapon is a swirl which it will randomly fire at you and should be dodged. When you finally destroy the Qotile you can move on to the next, faster round of gameplay. Several game variations are included which control the difficulty and speed of the game.

Screenshots

Promo Images

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Trailer

Alternate Titles

• "Yars' Revenge: the Qotile Ultimatum" -- Full GBC title
• "Time Freeze" -- working title
• "A Vingança dos Yars" -- Brazilian title

Part of the Following Groups

• Animals: Insects
• Games made into comics
• Gaming Service: Game Room
• Genre: Fixed-screen shoot 'em up
• Physical Bonus Content: Comic
• Yar series

User Reviews

Holds Up Just As Well Today.	Atari 2600	Guy Chapman (2001)
Yars' Revenge is a fun twist on the Kill the Fortress-type games	Atari 2600	Droog (522)

Critic Reviews

Woodgrain Wonderland	Atari 2600	Jan 24, 2019	A+	100
8-bit Central Retro Gaming	Atari 2600	2011		100
The Video Game Critic	Atari 2600	Apr 06, 2003	A-	91
Retrogaming.it	Atari 2600	Jul 19, 2008	9 out of 10	90
Digital Press - Classic Video Games	Atari 2600	Dec 10, 2003	8 out of 10	80
All Game Guide	Atari 2600	1998		80
Oldies Rising	Atari 2600	Sep 24, 2013	14 out of 20	70
IGN	Game Boy Color	Sep 29, 1999	7 out of 10	70
Pocket Magazine / Pockett Videogames	Game Boy Color	Nov 01, 1999		20
The Video Game Critic	Game Boy Color	Oct 21, 2004	D-	16

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Trivia

Development

Yars' Revenge started life as Atari 2600 conversion of Star Castle. However, after Scott Warshaw saw that the hardware was too limited, he started to change the game elements to create this game.

Extras

The Atari 2600 version came with a small comic book that explained the origin of the sentient flies like Yar and about the approaching Qotile enemy.

Freeze

After you fire the cannon and successfully hit the Qotile fly along the vertical line that appears along the side of the explosion field, scrolling from the top to bottom of the screen. If you do this correctly a strange five digit code will appear in the middle of the screen and the game will freeze.

References to the game

Sound effects from Yars' Revenge make an appearance in the movie Airplane II: The Sequel. In a scene near the beginning of the movie, a landing shuttle has auto pilot engaged; a kid then comes by and begins fiddling with the controls at mission control causing the shuttle to lose control, all the while the game sounds are heard in the background.

Title

Yar is named after an Atari executive named Ray Kassar. Yar is Ray backwards.

Awards

• FLUX
  • Issue #4 - #90 on the "Top 100 Video Games of All-Time" list
• Retro Gamer
  • Issue #46 - #5 in the “Top 25 Atari 2600 Games" poll

Information also contributed by Big John WV, LepricahnsGold, PCGamer77; ru pauk and Servo

Related Web Sites

• Matt Chat 70 (Video interview with Howard Scott Warshaw about the development of Yars' Revenge and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial)